The drama of the Legion "Idel-Ural"

Historian Iskander Gilyazov - about Soviet Muslims who fought on the side of Hitler

It became unsafe to write about the collaboration of Soviet citizens during the Second War: scientists involved in this difficult theme are attacked by a hurricth-patriots . Despite the bullying campaign, research continues.

Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of Kazan Federal University Iskander Gilyazov , whom we met at the European University of St. Petersburg, has been studying this phenomenon for several decades on the example of Russian soldiers who ended up in the German captivity during the First World War, and on the example of representatives of the Turkish-Muslim peoples of the Soviet Union, which entered the armed groups in armed groups The composition of the Wehrmacht, in particular, to the Volga-Tatar legion, to the so-called Legion "Idel-Ural ".

Says Iskander Gilyazov.

The creation of the eastern legions in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War became a certain extent a surprise to the Germans themselves

- The creation of the eastern legions in the Wehrmacht during the Second World War became a certain extent a surprise to the Germans themselves. At the very beginning of the war, when a military campaign against the Soviet Union was planned, the Germans did not plan to rely on any forces from other peoples. They had a very strict installation: only Germans can wear weapons, and only German weapons can win the victory with German hands. The rest of the nations, according to the Nazi anthropological racist theory, had their own “hierarchy”, classification, therefore the Germans initially, according to this theory, were distrustful. Of course, there were nations a little closer to them - the Scandinavian, for example, were the so -called Untermensch - "subhuman": Slavs, gypsies, Jews, etc.

The course of military operations against the Soviet Union, especially in the first months, practically pushed the Germans to the idea of creating military units from the eastern peoples. And, surprisingly, when there was no plan to attract these peoples, already at the end of August 1941, special commissions of the Eastern Ministry of Rosenberg began to work in prisoners of war camps. They were engaged in a kind of division of prisoners of war on a national basis and their allocation into separate special camps, which also naturally remained prisoner of war camps, but already concentrated representatives of various nationalities. Emigrants and German representatives, German scientists and immigrants from the Soviet Union worked in these commissions. They seemed to work for the future, not like hoping, but implying that sooner or later it could come in handy.

The course of hostilities against the Soviet Union prompted the Germans to the idea of creating military units from the eastern peoples

The idea gradually began to formalize, and the impetus for its implementation was given a German defeat near Moscow when Blitzkrieg choked. And in fact, in December 1941, good was given to create formations from the eastern peoples. Of course, everything cannot be reduced to the blitzkrieg, here we must take into account several factors that influenced the creation of oriental legions. This, say, unexpectedly a large number of prisoners of war. It was not clear what to do with them. By the end of the summer of 1941, there were a huge number of them. There are terrifying numbers: by the end of the war, the Germans registered six million Soviet prisoners of war. This is horror, a nightmare tragedy!

Iskander Gilyazov

Moreover, it should be borne in mind that the Soviet Union practically did not comply with the international conventions on the rights of prisoners of war, and these people turned out to be, as it were, abandoned to their fate, according to Stalin’s well -known direction: "We have no prisoners of war!"

In relation to prisoners of war of other countries-England, the USA-these international norms still acted, and the Soviet prisoners of war were in a terrible situation. And the Germans, realizing that nobody needed them, treated them especially cruelly. It was, of course, and mora, and epidemics, and terrible hunger, and a terrible supply ... In addition, it should be borne in mind that representatives of the old emigration and authorities of other countries, which to some extent influenced the Germans, expressed some considerations to them, played a certain role.

The Soviet Union practically did not comply with the international conventions on the rights of prisoners of war, and these people turned out to be as if abandoned to their fate by their country

In the end, the Germans decided to get out of this situation and “provide confidence in the representatives of the Turkic-Muslim peoples”, first of all, because they calculated (and Rosenberg’s position and the position of other ideologists were relevant) that these Turkic-Muslim peoples are subject to the ideologies of the Turkic unity that they, conventionally speaking, will be just as Aryans. In addition, it was believed that these peoples were in colonial dependence on the Soviet Union and they initially hate Russians. In addition, they are Muslims, and the Germans had an attentive attitude towards Islam. This is a long history, it goes back to the period of the First World War, when the Islamic factor tried to use Kaiser diplomats and scientists.

In the end, the whole amount of factors played a role: "The Turks, Muslims, colonial dependence, do not like Russians, Bolsheviks." It also seemed that the Soviet Union is a colossus on clay legs, that it should push him a little, and it would fall apart, especially if the national forces inside it begin to exert pressure on it. This idea was formed by the end of 1941.

- Then the formation of the first legions began?

-At the end of 1941-early 1942, the formation of the first four legions from these separated representatives, primarily the Central Asian and Caucasian peoples, began. Oddly enough, both Georgians and Armenians fell under this wave, although they were neither Turks nor Muslims. Therefore, at first four legions were formed-Turkestan, Caucasian-Muslim, Georgian and Armenian. The Caucasian-Muslim was subsequently divided into North Caucasus and Azerbaijani. That is, five legions were formed as part of the eastern legions, which became a single military structure as part of the Armed Forces of Germany.

Chevron legionnaire

The Tatar, or, as the Germans called it, the Volga-Tatar legion, or the Idel-Ural Legion, as the representatives of the Volga peoples themselves called it, included Tatars, Bashkirs, representatives of the peoples of the Volga region and Urals. It was founded in late July - early August 1942. In reality, the banner was handed to him on September 6, and this date is considered the date of the founding of the Legion. There were relevant rules, there were several waves of replenishment.

At the end of 1941-early 1942, the formation of the first four legions from representatives of the Central Asian and Caucasian peoples began

1942 and 1943 were the most peak years to create these eastern legions. Almost all of their basic camps were located on the territory of Poland. Formations were constantly taking place. There were relevant rules, a certain schedule. It should be noted that in the legions it was allowed to create a military unit of the number of no more than a battalion - this is about 900–950 people. There were at least 50–80 Germans in these battalions.

As a result, eight Volga-Tatar battalions were created. There were more Turkestan, Georgian and Armenian. As a result, it turned out that the Turkestan legion turned out to be the most numerous. At least the representatives of the Volga peoples, Tatars, Bashkirs and others through the Idel-Ural Legion, according to the most approximate ideas, about 20–25 thousand people.

-The very name of the Idel-Ural Legion is related to the events of 1918, when in Kazan, at the 2nd All-Russian Muslim Military Congress on January 8 (21)-February 18 (March 3), 1918, a resolution was adopted on the creation of the state of Idel-Ural , which includes the entire Ufa province, part of the Kazan, Simbirsk, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara, Samara Orenburg, Perm and Vyatka provinces?

Eight Volga-Tatar battalions were created. Turkestan, Georgian and Armenian

-Most likely, it was a certain political game, because this slogan already, in principle, remained in history when during the civil war the issues of national construction on the territory of the Middle Volga region, the creation of the state or state of Idel-Urals were discussed. Moreover, this was absolutely not a separatist movement. This state was assumed as part of the Russian Federation, that is, it was not a branch. But, in the end, even this was not allowed to create Bolshevik leaders. Then a milder option began to be carried out. In the course of the Civil War, as the Bolsheviks reinforced the idea, the idea of creating the Tatar-Bashkir Republic arose. In the end, already in 1920, in completely different conditions, a kutsai and not fully reflecting the interests of the Tatar population of the Volga Republic - the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, which, unfortunately, included only a quarter or one fifth of all ethnic Tatars, was created. Even at the same time, the territories on which ethnic Tatars lived for some reason found themselves in other administrative formations. One can only guess why this happened.

Most of the political emigrants who had authority in the 20-30s, at least among the Tatar political emigration, were not connected to this epic with the creation of the Idel-Ural legion. The fact is that the Germans were generally very suspicious of political emigrants of the first wave. It turned out that “more reliable people” were connected to the creation of the Legion from among the defectors, from late emigrants, from some other areas, but not one of those who had authority in the 20-30s. This applies not only to the Tatars, but also to many other peoples, for example, the Central Asian, Caucasian emigration.

As the Bolshevik power intensified, the idea of creating the Tatar-Bashkir Republic arose

Therefore, Gayaz Iskhaki , the most authoritative political leader of the Tatar emigration, who in the 20-30s has repeatedly visited Germany and for ten years published in Berlin the magazine "New National Way", closed in 1939, after 1940, he fell into disgrace, under suspicion, he was considered an English agent. At that time, Gayaz Iskhaki was in Turkey, from where he tried to support the Tatars, who were in German captivity. He repeatedly turned to the German authorities with a request to receive a visa, but did not receive it. During the war, he was never allowed to go to Germany.

He was just the author of the brochure, which was published in Paris in 1932, was called "Idel-Ural" and was a political manifesto of Tatar emigration, the vision of emigrants of the future Tatar people. This pamphlet described the future of the Tatars as part of the state of Idel-Ural. This term, in the end, was laid in the name of this legion, although the name of the HAPAS Iskhaki was almost never mentioned.

Rehearsal of the orchestra of legionnaires

In March 1944, the so-called Kurultai or Congress of Idel-Urals, a pompous ostentatious political event organized by the Germans, in which about 200 delegates participated, took place in Grainwald . A number of documents were adopted there and the "Union of the struggle of the Turko-Tatar Idel-Ural" was created. And there it was repeatedly emphasized that this is the Tatar political movement in Germany, including the Idel-Ural Legion-to a certain extent, the continuation of ideas that representatives of the Tatar political elite tried to realize when they fought for their statehood. Therefore, to some extent, the name of the Legion with the movement that was organized in 1917-1918 can be associated.

-And how popular is the idea of creating Idel-Ural, maybe in some other form? After all, as far as I know, it was widely discussed in Kazan in the 90s of the last century, immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In March 1944, the so-called Kurultai or Congress of Idel-Urals, a pompous ostentatious political event organized by the Germans, took place in Grainwald.

-Since the 90s, when this wave of the parade of sovereignty has gone, the rise of national self-awareness began, political organizations arose, including Tatars, of course, a lot was said about this. But, it seems to me, this idea of Idel-Ural or this state has not become widespread. The fact is that this idea involved the unification of the peoples of the Volga region and the creation of a sufficiently large population in the territory and population.

I repeat: it would not be an independent state, it was meant education in the Russian Federation, there was no separatist plan. Now such an assessment of this idea often slides in historical research. The fact is that our Tatar political movement in the 90s and now more about Tatarstan as the state of the Tatar people. And, in general, we do not see any complaints about Idel-Ural now, because this idea, it turns out, affects the interests of other peoples. And other peoples experience a certain distrust of this project, because they consider it a "Protatar project", because of which they supposedly remain in the shadow of the Tatars. The growth of national identity and political activation, of course, played a role. So this idea today can hardly be considered large -scale, popular and common.

-Iskander Ayazovich, but did the German command promise the legionnaires in the future, after the victory of the Reich, some territorial national entities?

- This is an important question. The fact is that the representatives of political emigration themselves, who participated in this movement during the Second World War, said a lot about the fact that "we will have our own state", that "the Germans will help us to create our own state" and so on, but no matter how much I look for, I have never met any of the speeches, nor in any of the documents that the Germans are ready to give statehood to other nations. It was an amazing adventure!

The Germans represented these people as “cannon meat”, they had to “flood the holes” that arose on the Eastern Front, “save German blood”

That is, it turns out that the Germans talked about anything: about freedom, about the joint struggle against Bolshevism, about some other abstract, foggy things, but in no case, no one, no rank, no politician has ever said about it. It was such a large -scale game. I call it a bluff or adventure from the German side, because, to say frankly (and I often met this in the documents), the Germans represented these people as “cannon meat”, they had to “flood holes” that arose on the Eastern Front, “save German blood”. Literally such formulations are found in the documents. Here, of course, cynicism is absolutely offset.

- How actively were the legionnaires in military operations against the Soviet troops?

- It was planned to do this on a wide scale. Some representatives of the eastern legions really justified their purpose - say, some Turkestan battalions, some battalions of the Caucasian peoples. They were especially actively involved in military operations on the Eastern Front during the 1942 summer offensive in the Stalingrad region. But this was not a large -scale phenomenon, it was separate episodes.

And the Volga-Tatar legion "Idel-Ural" was created later than everyone else. His first battalion arose in early 1943 and was sent to fight the Belarusian partisans. In April 1943, he raised an uprising in Belarus and almost all the legionnaires went over to the side of the Belarusian partisans, so the idea of the Volga-Tatar legion initially failed. After that, the Idel-Ural Legion was not allowed close to the combat area. They performed security functions, and the protection of posts, bridges, sapper and construction work has since become the main activities of legionnaires.

By the end of 1943, it became clear that the idea of creating the eastern legions did not justify itself

By the end of 1943, it became clear that the idea of creating the eastern legions did not justify itself, so the decision was made from the German side: to transfer them to France. But imagine what idea should have been inspired by these people? The idea of fighting Bolshevism, for the liberation of the homeland. That is, on the Eastern Front for them it was possible to choose some kind of ideological base. And what base could you choose for them by sending them to France to fight American formations? Why were they supposed to shed their blood there? In the end, this idea ended with a complete collapse.

- And what relations did the legionnaires with the army of General Vlasov have developed?

- The relationship was specific. The army of General Vlasov was created as the Russian Liberation Army, some national units were not planned in it. Vlasov himself, judging by some of his speeches, for some publications, adhered to, I would say, there are enough democratic approaches to the national issue. Например, в одном из своих выступлений он высказался за полное право наций на самоопределение в будущей России, вплоть до отделения. В то же время он отметил, что верит в силу традиций, в силу связей этих народов с русским народом, в то, что рано или поздно эта вековая традиция сыграет свою роль, и эти народы будут вместе с русским народом.

Молитва легионеров

И в то же время со стороны национальных лидеров тюрко-мусульманских народов было недоверие к генералу Власову. Они даже совместно подписали антивласовский манифест, в котором просили немцев ни в коем случае не соединять их с армией генерала Власова, потому что, как там было написано, "генерал Власов – русский генерал, и весь ход его мыслей – русский. И поэтому у нас – свое движение, а у него – свое". Хотя, конечно, контакты были. Были специальные представители РОА, которые общались с представителями тюрко-мусульманских народов, но никакого союза не получилось.

– Кроме военного сотрудничества немцев с представителями тюрко-мусульманских народов Советского Союза существовало еще и политическое сотрудничество. What was it?

Армия генерала Власова создавалась как Русская освободительная армия, в ней не планировались какие-то национальные подразделения

– Кроме военного сотрудничества немцы планировали организовать своего рода идеологическую базу для всех этих военных формирований. Были созданы специальные так называемые посредничества при Восточном министерстве Розенберга, Министерства по делам оккупированных восточных территорий, которое отвечало за всю эту работу, в том числе и с представителями восточных народов. Эти посредничества с различными восточными народами были немецкими учреждениями в составе этого министерства. Были созданы Туркестанское посредничество, Татарское посредничество.

Я скажу о последнем, которое более тщательно изучал. Это было немецкое учреждение, которое занималось татарами. Оно занималось работой среди эмигрантов, среди работников, которые трудились на территории рейха, среди легионеров, организовывало пропагандистскую, политическую работу среди этих людей. Это посредничество возглавлял абсолютно случайный человек (я с ним встречался, когда еще он был жив, ему было 90 с лишним лет) – адвокат Хайнц Унглаубе, очень веселый, жизнерадостный человек, который не говорил ни по-русски, ни по-татарски. И его выбрали на эту должность, потому что он, как он сам рассказывал, когда-то что-то прочитал о татарах. It shocked me!

Он возглавлял это посредничество практически до конца войны. Под его эгидой тогда же были созданы еженедельная газета для легиона и журнал татарской литературы на татарском языке. Для того, чтобы поддержать политические усилия других народов, были созданы приложения к этой газете. Он стал издавать немецко-татарский вестник на двух языках.

Кроме военного сотрудничества, немцы планировали организовать своего рода идеологическую базу для всех этих военных формирований

Своего рода итогом этой политической работы стало создание национальных комитетов, которые начали представлять себя как правительства в изгнании, как политические организации. И под эгидой татарского посредничества в Восточном министерстве в 1944 году был создан "Союз борьбы тюрко-татар Идель-Урала", который именовался просто "Комитет Идель-Урала". Попытки создания такой политической организации начались еще в 1942 году, но оформилась она только в 1944-м. Сохранились программные документы, стенограммы этого съезда. Частично я их опубликовал, в том числе и в переводе на русский язык в журнале "Гасырлар авазы" ("Эхо веков").

Документы эти по большому счету демократические, что достаточно неожиданно. Они не нацистские, не фашистские, они националистические, национальные. Но в то же время они во многом повторяют постулаты татарского демократического движения 1917–1920 годов. Татары, конечно, достаточно осторожно высказывались по вопросам антисемитизма, но в некоторых их политических движениях были достаточно сильны антисемитские ноты. Это, конечно, никак нельзя принять.

– А какова была судьба членов волжско-татарского легиона "Идель-Урал" после окончания войны?

95% легионеров, а может, даже и больше были совершенно случайными людьми в легионах. Они не были по-настоящему врагами

– 95% легионеров, а может, даже и больше были совершенно случайными людьми в легионах. Они не были по-настоящему врагами, многие пошли в легион только с одной целью: переждать, сохранить жизнь. И конечно, совершили ошибку. Нельзя их обвинять в том, что они стали предателями или фашистами. Любое преступление должно быть конкретно доказано в суде.

Судьба их во многом непростая. Те, кто остался жив и вернулся на Родину, из одного лагеря перекочевали в другой. Я не скажу, что их сразу расстреливали, но практически все они прошли через фильтрационные лагеря. Сохранились их дела, которые в 90-е годы были в открытом доступе. Я не успел поработать с ними в то время, но там их много – десятки тысяч.

– Пытались ли вы сейчас получить разрешение на работу с этими материалами?

Те, кто был освобожден, не получили никаких прав как ветераны ВОВ

– Даже не пытался. Я наслышан, какой там жесткий доступ. Те, кто был освобожден, не получили никаких прав как ветераны ВОВ. This is understandable. Чисто по-человечески мне просто жалко этих людей. Во многом это заблудшие люди. Я к таким людям отношусь не то чтобы с пониманием, но, по крайней мере, с учетом всех обстоятельств.

– Год назад, к 70-летию победы фильм "Война непрощенных" режиссера Дениса Красильникова про легион "Идель-Урал" стал победителем в номинации "Лучший полнометражный документальный фильм" на 11-м Казанском международном фестивале мусульманского кино. У русских националистов он вызвал ярость. До сих пор на националистических сайтах, например, на сайте "Новороссия" можно прочитать негативные комментарии к этому фильму. Эта история с фильмом – очередное свидетельство того процесса, который мы наблюдаем сегодня в России, – процесса искажения истории ради достижения неких политических целей. Как вы можете прокомментировать эту ситуацию?

Люди хотят выделиться, показать себя, не разобравшись в источниках

– Я выступал в этом фильме консультантом. Я читал очень много отзывов – от восторженных до резко критических. Большинство критических отзывов сами не выдерживают никакой критики, потому что критики подходят к этому фильму с заранее известной позиции. У этих критических оценок основной лейтмотив заключается в следующем: "Раз этот фильм снят о легионе "Идель-Урал", то он уже однозначно плох и он уже однозначно защищает этот легион". А то, что этот фильм не посвящен легиону "Идель-Урал", а посвящен тем людям, которые, оказавшись в плену, оказавшись в составе легиона, в этих нелегких условиях поднимались на борьбу против нацизма, это их не волнует.

Здесь уже идет какой-то раж. Люди хотят выделиться, показать себя, не разобравшись в источниках. Поэтому я счел ненужным вступать с ними в полемику. Сейчас, к сожалению, пошла такая тенденция. Если в 90-е годы у нас был подъем интереса к этой тематике, то теперь мы опять видим признаки советского подхода (в плохом смысле этого слова).

К сожалению, мы опять начали героизировать войну как явление. А война – это в первую очередь трагедия

В истории мы сегодня видим только то, что хотим видеть. В настоящем мы многие вещи перепроецируем, переносим на прошлое. К сожалению, мы опять начали героизировать войну как явление. Это мне не нравится. Война – это, в первую очередь, трагедия. И мне кажется, что 9 мая мы должны не просто бить в фанфары, а остановиться и подумать, вспомнить тех людей, которые погибли во время войны, и, может быть, просто помолчать, а не кричать: "Ура! Ура!"

Когда я вижу в майские дни на машинах наклейки "Дошли до Берлина, дойдем до Вашингтона!", мне становится просто страшно. Это неправильное восприятие истории. К сожалению, наше общество начинает видеть в войне только героизм и подвиг, а не трагедию. А мне кажется, что на первом месте в восприятии войны должны стоять трагедия и ужас.